Sweet Home Alabama!
Our brilliant Year 10 motorsport team spent their Easter holidays enjoying an incredible, all-expenses-paid adventure in Alabama, experiencing a multifaceted and enriching experience, packed with incredible encounters across the state. Beyond the awe-inspiring U.S. Space & Rocket Centre, our students immersed themselves in the heart of American education and culture.
A significant part of our journey involved spending two days embedded within American high schools: the welcoming Holtville High and the spirited Wetumpka High. This provided a fascinating insight into the American education system, allowing our students to interact with their peers, observe classes, and experience the unique atmosphere of a different school environment. These cultural exchanges fostered understanding and built bridges between our students and their American counterparts.
For the petrolheads among us (and our Greenpower engineers!), a visit to the legendary Barber Motorsports Museum was a dream come true. Home to an astounding collection of motorcycles and racing cars, the museum showcased the evolution of engineering and design in the automotive world. The thrill didn't stop there – our students were given the exhilarating opportunity to be driven around the iconic IndyCar track in unbelievably powerful 950bhp Porsches! This high-octane experience provided a visceral connection to the speed and precision that underpins motorsport, further fueling their passion for engineering excellence.
Adding a dose of pure fun to the educational journey, the team also spent a day at Six Flags Over Georgia, experiencing the adrenaline rush of world-class rollercoasters and enjoying some well-deserved downtime after their intensive learning.
However, the trip also offered profound moments of reflection and historical understanding. Visits to the Rosa Parks Museum and the site of her former residence and workplace provided a powerful and moving lesson in the Civil Rights Movement. Seeing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s church and standing on his doorstep brought history to life, offering a deeper understanding of the struggles and triumphs in the fight for equality and justice. These experiences were crucial in broadening our students' social awareness and fostering a sense of global citizenship.
Our exploration of American industry extended to a visit to the state-of-the-art Kia West Point factory. Witnessing the advanced manufacturing processes and the scale of modern automotive production provided valuable insights into potential future career paths in engineering and technology.
Giving back to the local community was also a key part of our trip. Our students had the rewarding opportunity to assist with a Greenpower elementary school race, mentoring younger enthusiasts and sharing their passion for sustainable engineering. This hands-on involvement was a fantastic way to inspire the next generation of Greenpower participants.
Of course, no adventure is without its unexpected moments! The team also experienced a memorable power cut that left them without electricity for an entire evening, night, and morning. While a minor inconvenience, this shared experience fostered resilience, teamwork, and a good dose of humour as they navigated the situation together.
This expanded account truly highlights the breadth and depth of our Alabama trip. It was a journey that transcended STEM education, encompassing cultural exchange, historical reflection, industrial insight, community engagement, and even a touch of unexpected adventure. The memories and lessons learned during this incredible experience will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on our students, shaping their perspectives and inspiring their future endeavours. We remain immensely proud of their engagement and the way they embraced every opportunity this remarkable journey offered.
A Night to Remember: Sixth Form Musicians Raise the Roof at Molloys!
On Thursday evening this week, our incredibly talented sixth form musicians took to the stage at Molloys in St. Marychurch for an unforgettable night of live music that had the audience on their feet from start to finish. Over the course of three hours, 18 performers showcased their remarkable talents in a show that left everyone in awe.
The evening kicked off with our first-year Year 13 band, who set the tone with a diverse and dynamic setlist that had something for everyone. From the smooth, timeless tones of Fleetwood Mac's September to the dreamy vibes of Dreams, they perfectly warmed up the crowd for what was to come.
Next up, the second Year 13 band took the energy up a notch, with their high-octane performance of classic rock anthems. With powerful renditions of Royal Blood and Rage Against the Machine, they brought a whole new level of intensity to the evening, leaving the audience buzzing with excitement.
But the real showstopper came when our headliners, Radiant, the Year 12 music performance students, took to the stage. These incredible young musicians truly raised the roof. Their hour-long set was a flawless mix of classic tracks, including Go Your Own Way, Murder on the Dancefloor, Locked Out of Heaven, and, of course, the jaw-dropping encore performance of Blondie’s Go Your Own Way. The energy, the passion, and the sheer skill on display were nothing short of mind-blowing.
The night was a celebration of the talent, dedication, and hard work of our sixth form musicians. It was a reminder of the incredible achievements our students make, not just in the classroom, but in the world of live performance.
cadets
This Wednesday's cadet session was packed with excitement, challenge, and skill-building opportunities.
Cadets took part in a wide range of activities including the climbing wall, coasteering, St John’s first aid, paintballing, drill, and air rifle target practice. Each station tested different abilities—from physical endurance and precision to teamwork and discipline. Air rifle target practice was a particular highlight for many, requiring focus, steady hands, and sharp aim—valuable skills in any cadet’s toolkit.
Meanwhile, the senior cadets were busy preparing for their leadership roles, rehearsing the lessons they’ll be delivering to the Year 8s next week. With the upcoming Year 8 overnight camp, they’ve been working hard to ensure they’re ready to teach and support the younger cadets through their preparations.
It’s been a fantastic session full of energy, learning, and leadership. Well done to all involved!
wall art video stars!
Recently, our school had the honour of being chosen as the location for a video showcasing the stunning Wall Art that adorns our school building. This is such a proud moment for us, as it not only highlights the beauty of our school's environment but also showcases the incredible learning atmosphere we strive to create at TA every day. It’s so rewarding to see this vision reflected in a project that shines a light on the heart of our school.
What makes this story even more special is the group of students who starred in the video. I cannot praise them enough! They were an absolute credit to our school—so articulate, confident, and natural in front of the camera. Watching them speak passionately about the wall art and their experiences here was truly inspiring. These students were not just participants in the video; they were true movie stars, effortlessly bringing the project to life with their energy and authenticity. We are so proud of how they represented our school.
I am delighted to share the video with you.
English with Ms Wiltshire
8Q5 have been finishing off their wonderful War and Conflict Literature cycle this week , culminating in their assessed piece of writing.
The class read and annotated the poem ‘Children In War Time ‘ which was written from the perspective of a young British child living through The Blitz. They had many lively and animated discussions about what they thought this would be like for a child and really got stuck in when we looked at some clips that featured men and women who survived The Blitz! This really helped them to understand how poetry can bring the very real experiences of very real people to life. Ultimately, they concluded that the poem created and explored the atmosphere of terror and panic that would have been felt by children in The Blitz; they also uncovered the fact that the poem suggests many children would have lost their innocence during the bombings. Well done 8Q5- you did an amazing job , as you always do!
grade 5 lamda for louise
We are thrilled to announce that Louise Porter, a talented Year 9 student, has achieved a Distinction in her Grade 5 Solo Acting LAMDA exam! This is a major accomplishment that showcases Louise’s dedication, skill, and passion for acting.
The LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) exams are highly regarded in the performing arts world, assessing a range of skills from acting to public speaking. For the Solo Acting exam, students perform two contrasting monologues—one classical and one contemporary. Achieving a Distinction means Louise exceeded the high standards of the examiners with her performance.
This is just the beginning for Louise. With her talent and determination, the future looks bright and she has already begun working towards Grade 6! We can’t wait to see what’s next for this rising star, whether it’s further acting exams or exciting auditions in the future.
Louise has truly proven herself as a gifted young actor. We’re incredibly proud of her achievement and excited to see where her journey takes her next. Well done, Louise!
Science with Mrs Thompson
This cycle, 7Q5 have been learning about polymers and how they are made of repeating units called monomers. After looking at some examples of different polymers in daily life, 7Q5 then had a go at making their own polymer.... slime!
The slime was made using household ingredients such as PVA glue, bicarbonate of soda and saline solution. Some students also chose to use food colouring to dye their slime a bright colour. 7Q5 were surprised to see how only a small amount of food dye was needed to achieve this.
Additionally, Shay Holden (7C) and Hope Burston (7K) decided to add some plastic beads to their slime to see how it disrupted the appearance by adding another polymer (plastic).
Art Club Photography Challenge
Mrs Lithgow's Art Club took advantage of the sun this week by completing a photography challenge around school. Students explored four creative themes: Nature, Pattern, Colour and Texture. From vibrant flowers and detailed textures to striking shadows and playful reflections, entries showcased impressive creativity and fresh perspectives. The challenge encouraged students to look closely at their surroundings and express their artistic vision through the lens. Some students also took up the option of thinking outside the box in a miscellaneous section; one pair even asked Mr Chadwick for a selfie (I think that needs a category of its own...).
Louis' success at Portugal Rugby Youth Festival
Over the Easter holidays, Louis was selected to represent his U15’s Exeter Athletic rugby team, at the international rugby tournament - Portugal Rugby Youth Festival. The festival sees 4000 players from 17 different countries competing to be the top team!Louis’ team won all their group games on day 1, conceding only 1 try and scoring the highest amount of points in the whole tournament, playing against Portuguese sides. Day 2 they faced a very physical and well drilled academy side, California Grizzlies. The score was 0-0 after extra time, Exeter won after a drop goal kicking contest and progressed to the semi-final. The semi final was a tough encounter, against Spanish side Valladolid U17’s! The boys fought hard, but the age difference proved too much and the lads bowed out after conceding two tries to the Spaniards. Overall they placed 4th out of 50 teams and returned back to the UK with their heads held high and proud of their achievement.
Last weekend Louis’ team also took part in the Devon 10’s festival at Crediton RFC. They won all their group games and scoring 135 points, finishing top of their group and progressed into the cup competition. The boys played Exmouth in the semi final and came out 38-14 winners. They then met Bideford in the final and won 36-5 to bring the cup home! Louis bagged the team 6 tries over the two tournaments and played incredibly well.
Congratulations, Louis!
Year 7 - Myles Bonnici
Year 8 - Olly Bell and Phoebe Acton
Year 9 - Robyn Higgins and Kordian Wisnik
Year 10 - Millie Routledge and Thomas Ross
prestigious diamond award
Year 7 - Freyja Mobbs, Emelia Hedgecock, Eva Thompson, Luna Mearns, Jack Parker, Kayleb Yeo and Freddie Thatcher
Year 8 - Immy Shaw
governors' platinum certificates
Year 7 - Bella Stevenson, Macie Gay, Nora Gordon and Calvin Downer
Year 9 - George Evans
governors' gold certificates
Year 7 - Ruben Tidball, Ela Uven, Poppy Tankielun, Elliot Holmes-Inch, Darcy Gibbings, Grace Donnelly, Paisley Taylor, Oliver Luscombe, Chloe Bastow, Megan Bushell-Sneap, Liv Andrews, Henry Nash, Macy Hickman, Dylan McDonald, Isla-Mae Gale and Georgiana Elliott
Year 8 - Charlie Berry and Tyler Jackson
governors' silver certificates
Year 7 - Willow Waugh, Gracie Harvey, Leo Watson, Finley Thompson, Abigail Rayment, Lilly Jones, Evie Jewell, Poppy Hewings, Ruby Treadaway, Arya Kelly, Riley House, Neave Heavens, Jasmine Craig, Sienna Frost, Fynlay Dever, Freddy Bonner, Owen Brown, Millie Beamish, Darcie Mae Finch, Lillyanna Edmonds, Skyla-Rose Whitfield and Gergo Rammer
Year 8 - James Costello, Serenity Ward, Lily-Jo Prior, Gabi Cobain, Harlow Bown, Luna Truong, Tyler Davis, Heidi Milner, Oktawian Siennicki, Jax Biagott, Seren Chadwick and Poppy Anderson
Year 9 - Logan Watt
governors' Bronze certificates
Year 7 - Anna Viediernikova, Ellis Palmer, Jessica Green, Lottie Forrester, Josh Cainey, Vinnie Driscoll-Hayes, Simeon Manners, Erin Gayton, Charlie Williams-Powell, Darcey Partridge, Ethan Nichols, Ruby Crago-Gould, Hope Burston, Madison Stewart and Milly Skelly
Year 8 - Jessica Munnangi, Lucas Vesely, Farah Davidson, Rosie Bevan, Leo Nicholson, Morgan Fisher, Harley Smith, Seth McCann, Keylan Hodgson, Izzie Mildren, Freddie Wallis, Olivier Szyszka, Cordi Williams-Powell, Flo Evans, Christopher Csapo, Marcus Findlay-Peers, Bobby O'Regan and Lily Langler
principal's gold certificates
Year 7 - Liv Reed, Millie Porter, Ethan Eales, Cody Hunter, Kallie Somerset and Achilles Richards
Year 8 - Bradley Wright, George Pitts, May McDonough, Wiktor Koza, Ted Dudley, Ollie Humphreys, Riley Gomes, Summer Dockrey, Wiktoria Aleksander, Jack Crabb, Olivier Kawula, Gracjan Rutkowski, Ava McArdle, Elissia Greenwood, Zachary Kittow, Ivan Masliakovas and Gracie Fancourt
Year 9 - Poppy Sanderson, Euan Miller, Alexa Lyons, Jenson Gorin, Aiden Hooper, Maxwell Murphy, Scarlett Hill, Mollie Peters, Ashton Lynch and Max Warner
Year 10 - Ellie Farthing
principal's silver certificates
Year 8 - Katie Tonks, Bella Hall, Ayden Quarshie, Riley Harper, Olly Bell and Khalid Al-Ajrami
Year 9 - Ella Weeks, Emily Cowan, Alfie Speed, Daisy Humphreys, Emilia Warner, Aleta Stojic, Anya Cosslett, Godsay Ampomah, Bali Mudge, Ellie-May Jackson, and Cherry Connors
Year 10 - Harrison Richards and Amy Rogers
principal's bronze certificates
Year 8 - Freja-Mae Mcelkenny and Isla Bryant
Year 9 - Jamie Tully, Kaelum Bowness, Brandon Callow, Jaylen Hunter, Maisie Newton, Poppy Bettridge, Hayden Quadling, Warren Biggs, Lacey Redhead, Jonathan Oleksy, Toby Howell, Sophia Peryer and Olivia Williams
Year 10 - Millie-Ann Wigston, Jack Slater and Connie Kinghorn
House stars of the week
Year 7
Brunel - Finley Thompson
Christie - Chloe Eales
Darwin - Simeon Manners
Fawcett -Freddie Brabon
Kitson - Nicholas Robinson
Nearne - Achilles Richards
Pengelly - Ruben Tidball
Year 8
Brunel - Dion Maharjan
Christie - Seren Chadwick
Darwin - Gabi Cobain
Fawcett - Ollie Humphreys
Harrison - Sophia Blake
Kitson - Chris Csapo
Nearne - Edith Mackenzie
Pengelly - Jake Richards
Year 9
Darwin - Taylor Gillespie
Fawcett - Emilia Warner
Harrison - Emily Colclough
Kitson - Archie Somerset
Nearne - Bella Kendal
Pengelly - Ivan Masliakovas
Homework Stars of the Week
Year 7
Brunel - Poppy Hewings
Christie - Freddie Thatcher
Darwin - Zac Retter
Fawcett - Ruby Treadaway
Kitson - Tommy Fairey
Nearne - Jude Nwachukwu
Pengelly - Toby Roadnight
Year 8
Darwin - Oceana Furse
Fawcett - Riley Harper
Harrison - Ayrton Sharp
Kitson - Max Kapusta
Nearne - Lily Shaw
Pengelly - Myah Sellick
Year 9
Darwin - Aaron Hering
Fawcett - Mason Findlay-Peers
Harrison - Erin Glancy
Kitson - Brodi Docherty
Nearne - Jonathan Siuchninski
Pengelly - James Beer
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